Revolving torpedo-tube cap.



No. 820,925. PATENTED MAY 15, 1906.

H. E. GRIESHABER.

REVOLVING TORPEDO TUBE GAP. APPLIGATION FILED JUNE 26, 1905;

2 SHEETS-SHBET 1.

PATENTED MAY 15, 1906.

H. E. GRIESHABER. REVOLVING TORPEDO TUBE GAP.

APPLIGATION FILED JUNE 26, 190".

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HUGO E. GRIESHABER, OF QUINCY, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO ELECTRIC BOAT COMPANY, OF BAYONNE, NEW JERSEY, A COR- PORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 15, 1906.

Application filed June 26, 1905. Serial No. 267,027.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, HUGO E. GRIESHABER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Quincy, Norfolk county, Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Revolving Torpedo-Tube Caps; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

The invention relates to submarine or submergible torpedo-boats, and has for its ob ject to provide a simple and efficient device for closing the outboard ends of the torpedo tube or tubes, which device is preferably constructed and applied as a revolving cap forming the end or nose of the boat and adapted to move transversely of the axis of the tube or tubes to uncover the end of the latter when a torpedo is to be discharged and to effectively seal the tube or tubes against ingress of water after the torpedo has been fired and While the boat is operating under normal conditions.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a horizontal. section of the forward end of a submarine boat, showing the cap in position to close the ends of the expulsion-tubes Fig. 2 is a side elevation showing the cap in closing position. Fig. 3 is an end elevation of the boat, likewise showing the cap closing the tubes. Fig. 4 is an end elevation showing the cap movedinto position to uncover the ends of the tubes and permit the torpedoes to be expelled.

While the invention is illustrated in connection with a submarine boat having two symmetrically arranged bow expulsion tubes, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to any particular type of boat or arrangement of torpedo-tubes, but may find an equally advantageous application to submarine torpedo-expulsion tubes in any other of the well-known relations.

Referring to the drawings, a indicates the bow of a suitably-shaped submarine or submergible torpedo-boat, in which is mounted a pair of symmetrically-arranged torpedo-expulsion tubes 0 c, the. outboard ends of which are secured in a casting h, which latter is sepluiied to and conforms to the plating of the Rigidly attached to the outside of the boat and projecting beyond the ends of the tubes 0 c is a curved or arch-shaped support or bracket g, the sides of which are open to permit the torpedoes to be discharged from the tube without obstruction. The bracket 9 is so shaped as to conform to the general configuration of the hull and to offer little or no obstruction to the progress of the boat.

Revolubly mounted within the bracket 9 is a convex cap I), which likewise conforms generally to the contour of the hull and is secured to a longitudinal shaft cl, which latter is mounted between and parallel with. the tubes 0 in a bearingh', formed in the casting h. The forward end of said shaft is journaled ina bearing i, mounted on the forward end of the bracket g. The cap b is provided with as many covers 9' as the boat has tubes, each cover consisting of a forwardly-dished plate mounted on the inside of the cap in such position as to engage the casting 72, about the discharge ends of the tubes 0, and in order to insure a water-tight joint said casting is provided with annular rubber gaskets a, surrounding the tube ends, which gaskets are engaged by the covers when the latter are brought into alinement with the tube to close the same. The cap is also provided with as many holes is as there are tubes and covers j, which holes are so located as to be brought into axial alinement with the several tubes 0 when the cap is revolved to permit the torpedoes to be discharged, so that as the torpedoes leave the tubes they pass without obstruction through said holes 71'. It is to be noted that the bracket 9 is so constructed and arranged that when the cap 6 is turned to close the tubes the holes 7c in said cap are housed behind the sides of said bracket, so that the bracket and the cap form a fair nose for the boat and decrease the eddy resistance which would result if the holes 7c were not covered and protected by the arch-shaped bracket.

The shaft cl, upon which the cap Z) is mounted, extends well inside the boat and may be operated by any desired means. In order to prevent undue wear on the gaskets against which the covers 7' seat when the cap is moved to close and open the ends of the tubes, the shaft (Z is capable of a slight reciprocatory motion, and to permit this sufficient clearance is allowed between the cap I) and the bracket g so that when said cap is to be turned the shaft (1 is moved slightly forward before rotating it, thereby releasing the covers from contact with the gaskets e. The shaft (1 is'then rotated until the holes 7c come in alinement with the tubes 0, which is the firing position. After the torpedo has been expelled the cap is returned to its former position, and pressure securely seats the covers j against the gaskets e.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The combination with a torpedo-expulsion tube or tubes, of a revoluble shaft mounted longitudinally of and projecting beyond the end thereof, a cap on the end of said shaft movable transversely of the axis of said tube or tubes to open and close the outboard end of said tube or tubes.

2. The combination with a torpedoexpulsion tube or tubes, of a revoluble shaft mounted longitudinally of and projecting beyond the end thereof, a cap on the end of said shaft movable transversely of the axis of said tube or tubes, said cap having acover and an orifice alternately brought into registry with the outboard end of said tube or tubes to close and open the same.

3. The combination with a torpedo-expul sion tube or tubes, of a revoluble cap to open and close the outboard end of said tube or tubes, and a shaft upon which said cap is secured, said shaft having a slight longitudinal movement to disengage the cap from the tube end or ends.

4. In a submarine boat having a torpedoexpulsion tube or tubes, a revoluble shaft mounted longitudinally of the boat and extending beyond the end thereof, a cap on the end of said shaft movable transversely of the axis of the tube or tubes to open and close the outboard end of said tube or tubes.

5. In a submarine boat having a torpedoexpulsion tube or tubes, a revoluble shaft 7 mounted longitudinally of the boat and extending beyond the end thereof, a cap on the end of said shaft movable transversely of the axis of the tube or tubes to open and close the outboard end of said tube or tubes, said cap forming the end of the boat.

6. I11 a submarine boat having a torpedoexpulsion tube or tubes in the end thereof, a revoluble shaft mounted longitudinally of the boat and extending beyond the end thereof, a cap on the end of said shaft movable transversely of the axis of said tube or tubes to close and open the outboard end of the tube or tubes, said cap forming the nose or end of the boat.

7. In a submarine boat having a torpedo expulsion tube or tubes, a revoluble shaft mounted longitudinally of the boat and projecting from the end thereof, a cap on the outer end of said shaft, and a cover on said cap adapted to close the outboard end of said tube or tubes.

8. In a submarine boat having a torpedoexpulsion tube or tubes in the end thereof, a revoluble shaft mounted longitudinally of the board, a bracket secured to the end of the boat and constituting an end bearing for said shaft, a cap on said shaft, and a cover on said cap adapted to close the outboard end of said tube or tubes.

9. In a submarine boat having parallel torpedo-expulsion tubes in the bow thereof, a revoluble longitudinal shaft mounted adjacent to said tubes, and a cap secured to said shaft serving to open and close the outboard ends of said tubes.

10. In a submarine boat having parallel torpedo-expulsion tubes in the bow thereof, a revoluble longitudinal shaft mounted adjacent to said tubes, a generally arch-shaped bracket secured to the hull and forming a bearing for the end of said shaft, and a cap secured to said shaft serving to open and close the outboard ends of said tubes.

11. In a submarine boat having parallel torpedo-expulsion tubes in the bow thereof, a revoluble longitudinal shaft mounted adjacent to said tubes, a generally arch-shaped bracket secured to the hull and forming a bearing for the end of said shaft, a convex cap secured to said shaft forming the nose or end of the boat, and covers in said cap serving to open and close the outboard ends of said tubes.

12. In a submarine boat having parallel torpedo-expulsion tubes in the bow thereof, a revoluble longitudinal shaft mounted adjacent to said tubes, a generally arch-shaped bracket secured to the hull and forming a bearing for the end of said shaft, a convex cap secured to said shaft forming the nose or end of the boat, and covers in said cap serving to open and close the outboard ends of said tubes, said shaft having a slight longitudinal movement to cause the covers to engage and disengage the tube ends in the final closing and preliminary opening movements,

respectively, of the cap.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

HUGO E. GRIESHABER. Witnesses:

F. L. BRAKE, W. D. FEsLER. 

